Process of making nitric acid



1. H. REID.

PROCESS 0F MAKING NITR-IC CID.

APPLICAUON HLED sEPT.1o,19|1.

I40,912 mmm Deu. 20, 1921.

en i

TIONL NTROGEN CQMANY, A CORPORATON 0F IDELLVAEE.

. .PROCESS E' MAKING NITRC ACID.

infedele,

specincanon of'rettersrateat. Fammi-@Qi pas@ gp, l

appliance elec september 1o, '1917. serial no. leen-es.

'To all whomz't may concern.' *p

Be it known that l, JAMES HENRY Rain', a

i' citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making Nitric Acid, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to the production of nitric acid. by the oxidation of ammonia and has for its general object to produce a maximum quantity of such acid from a given quantity of ammonia.

It has been proposed to produce ammonia by the treatment of cyanamid or nitrolime with steam; also, as a separate process, to treat ammonia with ozone in order to produce nitrous and nitric acid.

ln my process, the ammonia as generated or evolved, and while in a nascent condition, is subjected* to the action or' ozone, thus greatly increasing the proportion of nitric acid and correspondingly 'decreasing the proportion of nitrous acid obtainable there 'from as compared with the treatment of ammonia,-while in its ordinary condition, with ozone. Y

The process will be described in connection with the treatment of calcium cyanamid with steam, the drawing being a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of an apparatus wherein the said process may be realized.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 denotes a. receptacle, provided with a cover 2, which is `removably connected. to saidreceptacle by means oi the swinging wing-nut bolts 3 pressing the cover flange fl against a washer or gasket 20 on the receptacle iiange 5 to which the bolts are pivotally connected.'

The lower part of the receptacle l, is provided with the outlet duct or pipe 6, controlled by valve 7, which carries the inlet duct or pipe 8, ,controlled by valve 9.-

Remoyably situated. within the central portion of the receptacle 1,/is the perforated diaphragm or septum 1l), resting upon the support 11. i

Communicating with the receptacle 1, above the support' 11, are the tubular extensions 12, and 13, provided with the closures 14,v and secured by the screwplamps 16, and 17..

The cover 2, is provided Awith the .inlet duct 18, controlled 'by valve 19,

whereby steam may be supplied to the apparatus. in-

a controlled manner.

In practising my process with ratus shown herein, the cover 2 and calcium cyanainid in granulated form is placed and spread upon the'porous diaphragm or septum 10, to a` suitable depth. The cover 2 is then secured to the lower part the appa is removed ot the receptacle 1, by means of the swinging wing-nut bolts B, a suitable washer or paclring 20 having been placed between the flanges 4 and 5.

The closures island 15, being in place and secured by the screw clamps 1li and l?, the valves 19 and 7 are slightly opened and a streamer steam gradually passed into the receptacle by means oli' the duct or pipe 18,` and through the b ed of calcium cyanainid 22, where a reaction takes place and ammonia is produced, which ammonia passes down through the pervious or porous diaphragm or septum 10, into -tlie chamber 23, in the lower part of the receptacle 1, below it.

23, through the duct 8, by slightly opening the valve 9, where it mixes with the nascent ammonia and oxidizes it Ito nitric acid, which nitric acid collects on the. walls of. the chamber 23, and accumulates, runs down and is discharged through the duct or pipe 6, and valve 7, and is delivered into a suitable reservpir such as a cai'boy or other storage receptacle (not shown).

vl/hen it is desired to remove vthe spent calcium cyanamid and supply fresh material the covers lll and 15 may be removed, by releasing the screw clamps 16 and 17, and withdrawing the spent material through either of the extensions 12 or 13, and new or fresh calciuni-cyanamid supplied through the opposite extensions, both extensions then again closed by-the closures 14 and 15 and secured by the screw clamps 16 and 17, it being noted that the supply oi' steam and lill) Ozone is then admitted into the chamber eli lill@ ozone are shut oli during the process of re- C, moving the spent calcium cyanamid and the l supplying ot fresh material bv closing the valves 9 and 19. r

Any suitable nitrogen containing com# pound capable of yielding ammonia by the action of water or steam may be employed instead of calcium cyananiid and the water may be supplied'as a spray, vapor or other lll form Without departing from the spir of the invention.

The ozone employed may be supplied directly as auch from a suitable s'orage re vceptacie or may be produced' by the action of an electrical discharge on oxygen, or the ozone may belassociated with nitrogen as would resultfrom the action of an electric dischargeof suicient voltage on ordinary air to convert `the oxygen present into ozone Without oxidizing the nitrogen.

If'the proportions of ammonia and ozone be properly adjusted and maintained, prac- ,ticaily all of the acid obtained will be nitric acid; and, from a given quantity of ammonia, a maximum quantity of nitric acid (with a correspondingly sinali proportion of vnitrousacid) will oe profiuceci.

Instead of employing calcium cyanamid as a source of ammonia when acted, upon by Water or steam, any other Snbscancecapable K Lancom of evoiving' ammonia when aced upon by Waer or steam may be employed Wlthout departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having described my inventionfwhat claim 1s;-v

l. The process of making nitric acid which comprises subjecting nascent ammonia to the action of ozone.

JAMESHENRY REID.

Witnesses ERNEST H. BALL, F. L. WHRTNaR.

yieic'iing ammonia, 

